THE INTERNATIONAL Guitar Festival of J.K. Mertz has become an established part of Bratislava’s cultural summer events. Already in its 39th year, the festival will again offer concerts, master classes and seminars between June 24 and 29 in various venues around the capital.
The foreign headliners include US lute player Paul O’Dette, Spanish flamenco player Antonio Rey, Ricardo Gallén (also from Spain) performing in a Bach project, Brazilian duo Siqueira Lima, Mexico’s Oman Kaminsky and others.
Slovak and Czech performers include jazz trio Michal Bugala-Libor Šmoldas-Robert Balzar, flamenco guitarists Flaco de Nerja (Branislav Krajčo), Morenito de Triana (Stanislav Kohútek), Martin Krajčo and Radka Krajčová, among others.
The festival’s 2014 edition encompasses a wide spectrum of genres and historical periods, running the gamut of classical, jazz and flamenco, and spanning from Renaissance to contemporary, anyone can find events to suit one’s tastes.
The festival also includes the International Guitar Competition of J.K. Mertz, which in its 9th year will culminate in a concert on June 28, in the Hall of Mirrors in Bratislava’s Primate’s Palace.
More detailed information on the programme, tickets and accompanying events can be found at www.jkmertz.com, also in English.
